Pope

New pope asked to work until death

Tuesday, March 5th, 2013

An unnamed Cardinal has told a Milan newspaper, the Corriere della Sera, Cardinals’ plan to ask the next pope to pledge in his inaugural address that he will serve until death. As Emeritus Pope Benedict begins his retirement, the Sunday Times reported some cardinals are beginning to have doubts about Benedict’s decision. The Sunday Times Read more

The Church needs to change argues Oxford University professor

Tuesday, March 5th, 2013

In an frank interview in the Guardian, Diarmaid MacCulloch, a professor of the history of the Church at the University of Oxford, suggests just about every day we listen to the radio, watch TV or read the newspaper we are seeing evidence of a Church that needs change. He says, we see almost daily, evidence that Read more

Benedict – last words, last decisions

Tuesday, March 5th, 2013

Pope Benedict’s last words and gestures are worth noting. Take four of his last decisions, for example. 1)     Nine months after the sacking of the President of the scandal-ridden Vatican bank, he appoints a new President: a lay man and a non-Italian. 2)     He appoints a man of promise to a diplomatic post in a Read more

Top cardinals proposing ‘ticket’ of pope and secretary of state

Monday, March 4th, 2013

Informed sources both within and outside the Vatican confirm that a group of cardinals are seeking to have Archbishop of Sao Paolo, Brazil, Odilo Pedro Scherer as pope, accompanied by one of two options for Secretary of State. Cardinal Scherer, 63, is a well-respected Latin American prelate, of German extraction, he is considered to be “measured” Read more

Opinion: Reform dominates Conclave agenda

Monday, March 4th, 2013

It would be entirely understandable if Benedict XVI wanted “business as usual” signs to go up at the Vatican as soon as possible after his retirement, and for the new man in charge to carry on the good work of the old though perhaps with extra energy. What is emerging is something rather different – Read more

Vatican spokesman: Wiretapping limited and insignificant

Monday, March 4th, 2013

The Vatican, Thursday confirmed reports that it had ordered wiretaps on the phones of some Vatican officials. The wiretaps were part of its Vatileaks investigation. The admission came as Panorama magazine reported Thursday, that the Vatican Secretariat of State had ordered wiretaps on the phones of several Vatican prelates as part of an investigation into Read more

Pell just posturing say Australian Catholics

Monday, March 4th, 2013

Australia’s Cardinal at the Papal Conclave in Rome, George Pell has come under fire for remarks he made about pope Benedict, reports Melbourne’s Age. Pell criticised the outgoing Pope, saying that despite being a great theologian and a brilliant teacher, governance and government wasn’t his strong point and that Benedict’s resignation leaves future Pontiffs vulnerable. Pell also Read more

Odds on a young Italian pope punters say

Monday, March 4th, 2013

More than 20,000 people have bet hundreds of thousands of dollars on the papal change and international bookmakers expect that dollar figure to quickly move into the millions, according to USA Today. Just two hours after Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation, Irish bookmaker Paddy Power was out with their odds and within 48 hours, Read more

Sede Vacante: The seat of Peter is empty

Friday, March 1st, 2013

Pope Benedict XVI’s final trip as pope was a 15-minute helicopter ride from the Vatican to the papal summer villa at Castel Gandolfo. He was joined in the Italian government chopper by his personal secretary and assistant secretary, his personal physician, his new valet and an official of the Prefecture of the Pontifical Household. Joining Read more

No clear front-runner for new pope

Friday, March 1st, 2013

A date for the start of the secret papal conclave to elect a new pope may not be chosen until the world’s cardinals formally meet on Monday for the first time since Benedict’s departure. Timing is important because Holy Week begins March 24, with Easter Sunday March 31. To have a new pope in place Read more